Must the tenant justify their departure?

No, the tenant can leave without giving a reason. However, to benefit from a reduced one-month notice outside a high-demand area, they must justify one of the grounds set by law.

Does notice run from sending or receipt?

From the date the landlord receives the notice. Hence the importance of a delivery method that establishes a certain date.

Does the tenant pay rent during the notice period?

Yes, rent and charges remain due for the whole notice period, even if the tenant leaves before it ends — unless the home is relet earlier with the landlord’s agreement.

Tenant notice period: term, high-demand area and reduced grounds

Updated on July 6, 2026 · 5 min read

The tenant may leave at any time, provided they give notice. Its length depends on the type of let and the situation: it can be cut to one month in a zone tendue (high-demand area) or on certain grounds. The landlord needs to know when notice takes effect in order to organise reletting.

The standard notice period

For an unfurnished primary-residence let, the tenant’s notice is three months. For a furnished let, it is reduced to one month whatever the situation. Notice runs from when the landlord receives it, not from when it is sent.

Reduced notice in a high-demand area

In municipalities located in a zone tendue (high-demand area), notice for an unfurnished let is reduced to one month, with no supporting evidence. It is enough to state in the notice that the home is in a high-demand area. It is the most common reduction.

Grounds for reduction outside a high-demand area

Outside a high-demand area, the tenant can also get a one-month notice in several cases, with supporting evidence:

job relocation, job loss or a new job after job loss;
a first job;
a state of health justifying a change of home (elderly person);
recipient of RSA (income support) or AAH (disabled adult allowance).

The form of notice

The tenant gives notice of departure by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, by act of a commissaire de justice (judicial officer), or by hand-delivery against a receipt. A certain date of receipt is essential: it is what triggers the notice countdown.

Frequently asked questions

Must the tenant justify their departure?: No, the tenant can leave without giving a reason. However, to benefit from a reduced one-month notice outside a high-demand area, they must justify one of the grounds set by law.
Does notice run from sending or receipt?: From the date the landlord receives the notice. Hence the importance of a delivery method that establishes a certain date.
Does the tenant pay rent during the notice period?: Yes, rent and charges remain due for the whole notice period, even if the tenant leaves before it ends — unless the home is relet earlier with the landlord’s agreement.